Centurions skipper bows out

Mark Taylor

Oliver Wilkes has posted a thank you to the Leigh fans after playing his final game for the club on Sunday.

Club captain Wilkes enjoyed two spells at Leigh, helping them win promotion to Super League in 2004 and most recently leading them to back-to-back Championship League Leaders Shields in 2014 and 2015.

A popular figure on and off the pitch, Wilkes is relocating his family to his hometown of Ulverston in Cumbria and is expected to join nearby Championship One club Barrow.

Wilkes said: “I want to say thanks from the bottom of my heart to all the fantastic Leythers who have supported me during my time at the club.

“The two spells I’ve had at Leigh have been the most enjoyable and successful of my career - the fantastic 2004 season and realising our dream of Super League and then coming back and two fantastic Championship-winning seasons and the Grand Final last year.

“I’ve played with some great players, made some friends for life and my family have also been really welcomed into the Leigh family.

“Now it’s time for me to move on, my family and I have moved back home to Ulverston and we begin the next chapter. But Leigh will always have a special place in our hearts. Special thanks to Paul Rowley, Allan Rowley and most of all Derek Beaumont. We love you all. It’s been a privilege to play for and captain a great, great club and I’ve got memories to last a lifetime. We’ll always support you and look forward to enjoying your success in 2016 and beyond.”